Industrial decline has not been kind to Detroit, once a powerhouse of America’s economy. Mass layoffs and urban flight emptied swathes of the historic core, much of which crumbled for decades. Down but not out, Motor City’s renaissance has been under way for a while. The latest brick in that (rising) wall is the Detroit Foundation Hotel, a 100-room offering from the Aparium Hotel Group, which specialises in creating character-packed hotels in second-tier cities.
Occupying the neoclassical block that formerly housed the Fire Department, the makeover is a collaboration between the Simeone Deary Design Group and McIntosh Poris Associates and celebrates Detroit’s manufacturing past while casting a finely-crafted eye at its future. Decorated in an industrial-luxurious palette of chocolate browns, pastel metallics and wallpaper featuring photos of old Detroit, rooms conjure past into present, while down in the Apparatus Room, Michelin-starred Michigan native Thomas Lents showcases local flavour.
Add in the street-front Foundation Studio, a gallery dedicated to local art, which also decorates hotel walls, staff uniforms by the Detroit Denim Company, in-room tailoring courtesy of 1701 Bespoke and locally-made goods in the boutique and it’s clear that when it comes to buffing Detroit’s (rusted) star, this hotel has emerged swinging.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
250 Larned Street
-
All-In is the Paris-based label making full-force fashion for main character dressingPart of our monthly Uprising series, Wallpaper* meets Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø of All-In, the LVMH Prize-nominated label which bases its collections on a riotous cast of characters – real and imagined
-
Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationshipAnnouncing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a collection, a car and a long term commitment
-
Through an innovative new training program, Poltrona Frau aims to safeguard Italian craftThe heritage furniture manufacturer is training a new generation of leather artisans
-
With glowing honeycomb-shaped booths, this futuristic Japanese restaurant is ramen heavenAfter a successful U.S. expansion, Kyuramen touches down in Los Angeles.
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the worldCelebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
Seven things not to miss on your sunny escape to Palm SpringsIt’s a prime time for Angelenos, and others, to head out to Palm Springs; here’s where to have fun on your getaway
-
At Linden Los Angeles, classic New York comfort food gets its dueThe restaurant, inspired by a stretch of boulevard bridging Brooklyn and Queens, honors legacy, community and pleasure
-
This atmospheric New York restaurant was designed to be a ‘beautiful ruin’At Leon’s, classic Italian fare comes with a North African accent and with a side of family history
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think soIn partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
-
Alba Los Angeles is an Italian vacation disguised as a restaurantThis buzzy NYC import brings a slice of la dolce vita to West Hollywood
-
At Bar Etoile, Scandi-chic meets leisurely Los AngelesThis new Melrose Park joint mixes art-world references, French bistro vibes and an out-of-this-world martini
